Vatican discovers rare Michelangelo sketch

A rare sketch of St Peter’s Basilica drawn by Michelangelo has been discovered by the Vatican.

Catholic
News Service reports that it is believed the 1563 drawing may be the
last surviving example of the Renaissance artist’s work before his
death in 1564.

Dark-red-chalk lines show a sketch of a partial
plan of one of the radial columns of the cupola drum of the basilica,
Italian newspaper L'Osservatore Romano reported.

“The
sureness of the marks, the expert hand used to making decisions before
unfinished stone leave little room for doubt the sketch is by
Michelangelo," the newspaper wrote.

“Sculptors and stonecutters
at the time commonly worked with red-oxide chalk because its marks were
more visible than graphite or charcoal pencils against the black veins
of the white travertine marble used for the basilica's construction.”

The torn sketch was found recently in the archives of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the office of the Vatican's chief engineer.

The
sketch will be presented today (10 December) to the Fabbrica's
president, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, and other Vatican officials in a
private ceremony Dec.